This blog began through a NIFA grant for Missouri Beginning Farmers. It continues today as a way for beginning farmers to learn about new ideas and to hear about upcoming events of interest. It is maintained by Debi Kelly (kellyd@missouri.edu).

Missouri Beginning Farmers website

Subscribe To

About Me

As an Extension Associate with the University of Missouri, I work with beginning farmers, small farms, alternative agriculture and organic farming. I am also the Co-coordinator for the Missouri Sustainable Agriculture and Research (SARE) Education Professional Development Program (PDP).

Followers

Monday, February 11, 2013

Moveable Drip Irrigation

I have
recently had the privilege of learning about a portable irrigation system that
can be used for home gardens or lasagna beds. This system was created by
Jeffrey E. Banks who works with Utah State University. More pictures and
information can be found by reading Designing a basic PVC home garden dripirrigation system.One of the
best irrigation systems for plant health, reduction in water and reduced
disease pressure is a drip system. These polyurethane systems can be daunting
to put into place and are usually not easily reusable if moved to a different
location.

A moveable
drip system is easy to install on a small or larger scale, can be rearranged
each year based on the size of the garden or landscape bed and once begun can
provide the homeowner with additional confidence to move forward in other areas
of the yard.

The first
line or main line (A) is glued to maintain pressure for the secondary lines (B)
after the manual valves (C). Begin with larger PVC pipe such as 1” pipe and
move to smaller sizes based on need. Secondary lines can be added as needed or
end caps can be placed to close off a secondary line when a row is not in
production.

A
fertilizer injector can be placed in the primary line
before the first manual valve so that fertilizer can be applied throughout the
system.

Holes are
drilled in secondary lines using a 1/16 drill bit. These are
spaced based on the type of vegetables; tomato every 6 to 12” with one hole on
each side of the plant while lettuce would be every 3 to 6 inches. This depends
on how far apart you space plants.

Make sure that the ground is level where pipes will be
placed. The sun will reduce impact strength of PVC pipe over time so straw or
mulch may be used to protect the system or pipe can be covered with tape if it
is a concern. The pipe will be taken apart and removed each fall to reduce sun
exposure.

Before use
each season clean out the pipe by placing holes face up and filling with water.
Use a wire to clean out any plugged holes. Once clean the holes may be placed
down or up. If they are left up then add a drainage hole every few feet to
prevent algae from building up in the pipe.

By using this system you may see higher production, higher
quality vegetables, healthier plants, up to 75% water savings, up to 90% time
saved in weeding and up to 90% time saved watering.